Did Ramsay MacDonald betray his party in 1931?

parties including the labour party’s class enemy: the Conservatives. Surely it was better to have no power than to share it with those whose principles and class interests were irrational. His party felt that MacDonald had deliberately set out to betray them. MacDonald hadn’t even troubled to tell his party about the possibility of the formation of a National Government, never mind even seeking their permission to join a coalition. It was apparent that he thought that the labour party wouldn’t do what was required to solve the economic crisis, as he agreed to head a predominantly Tory administration. This must have embarrassed the labour government, as their leader seemed to hold no faith in them. It seemed they’d been abandoned.    They felt that he’d become “…a vain and snobbish social climber…” He had already become a part of London’s ‘High Society.’ It was said that “…he’d been corrupted by ‘aristocratic embrace’…”   Other accusations which leads people to believe that he betrayed his party were that “…he was never a true socialist and that he wanted to join forces with the opposition party..”. Some think that he deliberately put his cabinet colleagues into a position where a cabinet split was inevitable.MacDonald had seemed very enthusiastic about the formation of the national government. He seemed to share no grief or animosity in response to presiding the coalition according to Snowden. “The day after the National Government was formed he came into my room…in very high spirits…”  Was his mood created by shear relief that their seemed a way out of this crisis? Or his own selfish ambition and narcissism that gave him this joy? Perhaps both.There are many reasons that have to be considered in defence of MacDonald.  It was very apparent that MacDonalds ideas and the party’s ideas to solve the economic crisis were very different. The party felt that it would go against all the labour party principles if they cut the dole by ten percent, as these were the group of people that were suffering the most financially. They were affecting the people whom had voted them into power so the whole concept of cutting their benefits seemed outrageous. Although MacDonald may have felt the same as Labour party leader, as prime minister he had to look at the economic crisis nationally. He therefore did the righteous thing putting national interests before party ones, heading a national government and supporting cuts for the unemployed. This shows a great deal of courage. It has to be remembered that was impossible for him to consider one group of people, as his responsibilities were to the whole nation. There was a great amount of pressure on MacDonald to form a national government, not only by the press but by request of George V. He believed that it was MacDonald’s patriotic duty to head it.MacDonald was vastly ignorant of Economic Policy because of his lack of understanding in this particular field. He much preferred to concentrate on foreign and imperial affairs. This does not show betrayal but a weakness in his leadership. By heading the National Government in fact he committed political suicide; as a result he was expelled from his party and appeared to be an unsuitable leader as he couldn’t get the country out of a national crisis unless he formed a national government. In conclusion to my study, I do not believe that MacDonald betrayed his party or acted purely in self-interest. I believe he did what he thought was necessary to try and solve that economic policy even though he lacked an understanding in this province.